Swim Drink Fish Blog
Read the latest updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, Artists for Water, and more.
Thank you for making this summer amazing.
Thank you for making this summer amazing and for being apart of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper’s Kingston Kingston and Wolfe Island Culture Festival. We had a blast and hope that you did too!
As the Culture Fest comes to a close we begin something new in Kingston
Today marks the closing of the first ever Kingston and Wolfe Island Culture Festival. Over the past 7 weeks we have explored what the Great Lakes mean to Kingston and Wolfe Island, how they’ve shaped our geography, our history, our identity. And, how they will shape our future.
For Immediate Release: Swim Drink Fish Canada Presents the Waterkeeper Showcase at Wolfe Island Music Festival
WOLFE ISLAND — Swim Drink Fish Canada will host the Waterkeeper Showcase on the main stage of the Wolfe Island Music Festival on Friday August 11th. The Waterkeeper Showcase will be hosted by Swim Drink Fish President Mark Mattson. Performing artists include Said The Whale, YOUR BOY, The Kents, and Lou Canon.
Art, Advocacy, & My Path To Watermark
I was raised on rock and roll. For me, Bowie, Lennon, and Strummer were more like father figures than elusive rock stars, and their lyrics were like welcome parental advice. I still crave songs illustrating hope, creativity, and social advocacy so it should be no surprise to learn that I’ve grown into a massive The Tragically Hip fan. By Dana Jackson, Watermark Project Coordinator
My Summer in Kingston has given me hope.
My name is Rebecca Harrison and I am the Manager of Programs at Lake Ontario Waterkeeper. Our organization started in Kingston over a decade ago. We launched there because even before we officially became Lake Ontario Waterkeeper we worked hand in hand with community organizations and local activists on a variety of cases. Our goal has always been to identify leaders within a community and assist their efforts for a swimmable drinkable fishable future on the Great Lakes.
Change is coming to Great Lakes Restoration
When we started Lake Ontario Waterkeeper in 2001 we had a simple approach to going after polluters: investigate the problem, find the polluter and make the government enforce the laws. This disconnection between people and water meant most people didn’t seem to care about the issues we were fighting for.
Robot Missions' Field Test
What will shoreline cleanup look like in the future?
As a part of the Future-themed week during the Kingston & Wolfe Island Culture Festival, Robot Missions is holding a Field Test at Lake Ontario Park. Since Kingston doesn't have a sandy shoreline (yet), Their team will simulate debris conditions in one of the sandboxes at the park. You're invited to join in on Thursday, August 3rd, 6-8pm! Tickets available here, and Facebook event page is here
Waterkeeper's comments on the Environmental Risk Assessment for Pickering Waste Management Facility
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission recently released its Environmental Risk Assessments (ERA) for the Pickering Waste Management Facility. There are several issues still needing to be addressed. View our full comment on this assessment here.
Don’t make me do a beach cleanup ever again. Please. Ever.
Left alone, sewage debris scares away would-be beach-goers, people who could have become stewards of the lake if they’d only been given a chance to connect with the water. I’m happy that people have volunteered to pick this stuff up. But I never want to do a beach cleanup like this again.
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper makes a promise to the Great Lakes
This week Lake Ontario Waterkeeper staff made a promise to protect the Great Lakes - and now we're inviting you to do the same. How? It starts with a promise. Visit www.waterkeeper.ca/promise and make your Great Lakes Promise today. Tell us your favourite Great Lake. Sign the promise to protect it. Then, share it online and ask your friends to do the same.